Two high-profile mergers involving four South Wales colleges have won favour with the nation’s education watchdog.

Estyn said a “clear ethos and direction of travel” had been established following the joining of Barry College with Coleg Glan Hafren to become Cardiff and Vale College (CAVC) in August 2011.

Since then, the inspectorate said the overall rates at which learners successfully complete their qualifications have improved and CAVC has established “stronger and more effective strategic links” with a range of partners, including Cardiff council.

Elsewhere, Estyn said “a considered and phased” merger strategy had paid dividends for Coleg Y Cymoedd – or College of the Valleys – which was borne out of Coleg Morgannwg and the College Ystrad Mynach.

It said the new college, which launched last summer, had developed a “clear ethos of equal partners” that was working well to ensure all staff collaborate effectively.

According to Estyn, communication at all levels across Coleg Y Cymoedd is good with staff being well informed about developments and receiving a wide range of information.

In terms of standards, the inspectorate said Coleg Y Cymoedd had worked effectively to improve trends in performance over the last two years and attainment rates were at or around the national comparator.

But, overall success rates – which include completion rates – are still below the national comparator and the college has been urged to address “inconsistencies in outcomes”.

In Cardiff, CAVC’s s overall success rate is above the national comparator but a few courses – including science and maths – are performing “significantly below” national benchmarks in terms of successful completion.

CAVC principal Mike James said: “We are delighted that Estyn has recognised the huge leaps forward the College has made since it was formed just three years ago, but we still have much more to do.

“The college has a wide range of strategies in place to ensure that our success rates constantly improve and Estyn has also recognised this, pointing out that we are in the top quarter of all colleges in Wales.”

Judith Evans, principal of Coleg Y Cymoedd, said there had been year-on-year improvement in learner outcomes, but she recognised “that there is still more work to do”.